China Pavilion Installation Halted After "Taiwan Pavilion" Approved... Cross-Strait Tensions Erupt at Gwangju Biennale

Taiwan Pavilion Name Restored After Taiwanese Protest
Chinese Envoys Voice Regret; China Pavilion Staff Withdraw the Next Day
Five Days Before Opening, China Pavilion Still Incomplete; Final Withdrawal Not Yet Confirmed

The cross-strait conflict between China and Taiwan has extended to the 16th Gwangju Biennale, just five days before its opening. After the Gwangju Biennale Foundation permitted the use of the name "Taiwan Pavilion" following ongoing controversy, Chinese officials protested, and staff preparing the Chinese Pavilion halted installation and withdrew from the venue.

Exterior view of the Gwangju Biennale exhibition hall. Gwangju Biennale

According to the Gwangju Biennale Foundation and related sources on August 30, the curator and installation staff of the Chinese Pavilion stopped their work at the Hajeongwoong Art Museum—the designated exhibition venue—on August 28 and left the premises. At that time, the Chinese artists had not yet arrived in Korea. As of now, the installation of the Chinese Pavilion remains incomplete.

The controversy began with the naming of the Taiwanese exhibition participating in the Gwangju Biennale Pavilion program. The exhibition organized by the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts (NTMoFA) was initially prepared under the name "Taiwan Pavilion." However, since June, the foundation labeled it as the "NTMoFA Pavilion" in its official promotional materials, which prompted a backlash from the Taiwanese side.

The two sides offered conflicting explanations regarding the name change. The Gwangju Biennale Foundation explained that the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts was participating as an institution, rather than as a national entity, so they used the institution's name. According to the foundation, consultation with NTMoFA began in December of last year, and an agreement to participate as an institutional pavilion was reached on January 12. The foundation also clarified that the naming dispute was an administrative and contractual issue, unrelated to the content of the exhibition or freedom of expression.

In contrast, the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan and NTMoFA argued that they had submitted their proposal using the name "Taiwan Pavilion" from the planning stage and that this designation appeared in official documents approved on April 2. On August 15, the Taiwanese curator and participating artists issued a statement protesting the removal of "Taiwan" from the name without their consent.

The controversy soon spread to the international art community. Artists and curators participating in the Biennale's main exhibition and various pavilions released an open letter demanding the reinstatement of the "Taiwan Pavilion" name. As the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan also called for the restoration of the name, exhibition preparations were delayed, and the installation work for the Taiwanese venue at the Asia Culture Center (ACC) was put on hold for some time.

The foundation, after discussions with the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan on August 25, approved the use of the "Taiwan Pavilion" name. The approval process was finalized when the ministry officially notified the foundation that NTMoFA would participate on behalf of Taiwan under that designation. Consequently, the "Taiwan Pavilion" name is now used in the event space, official documents, and promotional materials. The ACC also notified the NTMoFA on August 27 that it could begin installation at the exhibition venue.

Once preparations for the Taiwanese exhibition resumed, the Chinese side voiced objections. On August 27, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming and Consul General in Gwangju Gu Jingqi met with Gwangju Metropolitan City Mayor Min Hyungbae, where they expressed regret and concern over the approval of the "Taiwan Pavilion" name. Mayor Min reportedly responded that political considerations should not influence the field of art.

The very next day, work on the Chinese Pavilion was halted. Taiwanese media, citing Korean broadcast reports, stated that staff in charge of the Chinese exhibition withdrew following a request from the Chinese Embassy in Korea. Several overseas art industry outlets subsequently reported on the suspension of the Chinese Pavilion installation.

The Pavilion Project at the Gwangju Biennale, launched in 2018, is a program in which domestic and international art and cultural institutions hold exhibitions throughout Gwangju, independent of the main exhibition. This year, 16 national pavilions and 11 institutional pavilions are participating, marking the first time both China and Taiwan have participated simultaneously. The Chinese Pavilion is located at the Hajeongwoong Art Museum, while the Taiwan Pavilion is at the Asia Culture Center.

The 16th Gwangju Biennale will be held for 72 days from September 5 to November 15. Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen serves as the artistic director, and 43 artists (or collectives) are participating in the main exhibition. This year’s theme, "You Must Change Your Life," is inspired by the final line of Rainer Maria Rilke's poem "Archaic Torso of Apollo." Installation for the Taiwan Pavilion resumed after the naming was finalized, while, as of August 30, work on the Chinese Pavilion remains suspended.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.